Charlotte, NC

Tell me something: What’s happening to our TEENS around here??
On Tuesday, some rough-house kids climbed into the emergency door of a CMS bus that was carrying students from Midwood High — and attacked one of them! And there were three incidents just yesterday at Garinger High involving more troublemaking young people!
Look … there’s got to be a way to stop this nonsense before it gets seriously worse! Although these events can happen anywhere, Charlotteans are hard-pressed to find ways to stop potentially-dangerous situations such as the ones that took place over the past couple of days:

• The break-in of bus 330 (which was carrying rising ninth graders who are having a hard time academically) — and the assault on one of the students.
• A Garinger student accused of pushing and choking the principal!
• Three other students from the same school accused of stealing a car, and
• A student riding bus 475 who’s accused of throwing things out the bus window, striking a car, Fortunately, no one in the car was injured.

It goes beyond the school campuses, however.

WSOC-TV news is reporting that, in a North Charlotte neighborhood, two young teens on bicycles have been terrorizing neighborhoods — robbing pizza delivery drivers, a produce seller and even a construction worker — at gunpoint. While these crimes have continued, people are blaming their parents for the children’s criminal behavior.

Undoubtedly, the kids in question, if arrested and found guilty, should have to pay a fitting price for their shenanigans. But parents can and should keep a closer and more concerned eye on their children; still, the two best keys for stopping situations like these are open communication with our kids — and a community that will come together and teach, through example and genuine guidance (teaching them patiently and being accessible to them if they ever have problems), so they’ll understand the repercussions and consequences of what they do.

In my travels throughout the country, I’ve seen a few places even “adopt” the rougher or misbehaving children. Here’s how it works: Members of a church, a YMCA or concerned citizens group will meet and draw up a list of troubled teens (sometimes with assistance from police or social-service orgs) who obviously need assistance. Sometimes, they’ll be from poor families; often, sadly, they’ll be from families who seem to be neglecting or rejecting them.
Then they meet with the parents (or guardians) of these children and offer their services to help the child in sort of a “Big Brother/Big Sister” manner. If an agreement is made, they’ll actively try to help the child in many ways: bringing up his/her grades, give a positive substitute for the anger, “pranks” and listen to the kids whenever they have problems. Some places have safe spots where the youngsters can relax without worry about drugs, alcohol or fights.

It all boils down to one big word: LOVE.